UHF CB compatibility with new 80 channel radios

In the next six months UHF CBs with new channels will appear on the market. They won't actually have 80 channels, because 5 are reserved for Telemetry (22,23) or future use (61,62,63).

You can now buy 40 channel sets which can be upgraded to the new 80 channel standard when it becomes legal to use the new 75 channels.

It will be legal to keep on using existing 40 channel radios for at least the next 5 years.

You will be able to use 40 channel radios to talk to 80 channel radios, but -
- listening on a 40 channel radio to transmissions from an 80 channel radio will give much quieter audio level.
- listening on an 80 channel radio to transmissions from a 40 channel radio will give distorted audio, unless you get them to speak quietly !

Listening on a 40 channel radio, you will get interference from people operating on the new channels. e.g. if you're listening on 20 you will get interference from people transmitting on 59 and 60.

It will still be legal to sell 40 channel for a while - one Australian manufacturer has said they can change all models to 80 channels within 12 months. One importer has said they need three years to change all models !!!